The 2017-18 NFL season came to an end on Sunday night, when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots to win their first-ever Super Bowl, as Malcolm Jenkins became the first-ever former Ohio State football player to win the Super Bowl with two different NFL teams.
Now, the 2018 NFL offseason has officially begun, which means plenty of other former Ohio State football players will garner the league’s attention as potential draft picks or free agency additions over the next three months.
Ohio State’s 2018 NFL draft class includes at least three players who should warrant first-round consideration and more than a dozen players with the potential to be drafted or signed as undrafted free agents. Meanwhile, numerous former Buckeyes who are already established within the league will be looking to sign new contracts – potentially with new teams, but ideally for more money either way – as they head for free agency this spring.
Another Deep Draft Class
Ohio State’s top draft pick this year is likely to be Denzel Ward, who is expected to not only be the Buckeyes’ fifth cornerback drafted in the first round in five years, but potentially the fourth Ohio State defensive back in three years – following newly minted Defensive Rookie of the Year Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker and Eli Apple – to be a top-15 overall draft pick.
Two other 2017 Buckeyes who are widely projected to be first-round picks in April’s draft are defensive end Sam Hubbard and center Billy Price. Hubbard, who showed pass-rush ability at Ohio State but is at his best as an edge-setting run defender, could solidify himself as a first-round pick by demonstrating impressive athleticism in his pre-draft workouts. Price is widely considered to be the best center in the 2018 draft class; whether he is selected in the first round could simply depend on whether any team decides it should invest its first pick on a center.
Other Buckeyes who could be early-round draft picks include linebacker Jerome Baker, whose athleticism should also shine in pre-draft workouts and elevate his draft stock as a result. Offensive tackle Jamarco Jones’ draft stock has been hard to pinpoint, with projections ranging everywhere from Round 1 to Day 3, but his proven experience protecting the blind side elevates his chances to coming off the board early. Defensive ends Tyquan Lewis and Jalyn Holmes could also end up going as high as the second or third round after their impressive performances in the Senior Bowl.
Jerome Baker (17) and Sam Hubbard (6) are among the Buckeyes who will draw interest as NFL draft prospects this offseason.
Linebacker Chris Worley and safety Damon Webb should have a good shot at being drafted in the middle rounds after their impressive performances of their own at the East-West Shrine Game.
Ohio State’s other participant in the Shrine Game, quarterback J.T. Barrett, will of course be one of the most intriguing Buckeyes to follow throughout the draft process. While his proven experience winning games, ability to pick up an offense quickly and overall intangibles should make him a favorite among coaches as a potential late-round draft pick and backup quarterback, questions about his downfield passing ability and whether he has the arm strength to translate his game to the NFL could lead to him going undrafted.
Other Buckeyes who could either be selected in the late rounds of the draft or earn opportunities as undrafted free agents include tight end Marcus Baugh, defensive tackles Tracy Sprinkle and Michael Hill, safety Erick Smith and special teamer Zach Turnure.
On The Free Agent Market
Before those Buckeyes have the opportunity for their NFL dreams to come true when the 2018 NFL draft is held April 26-28, some of the other former Buckeyes who are already in the NFL will have their own opportunities to cash in this offseason as they get slated to become free agents when the new league year begins on March 14.
The Buckeye who is the surest bet to earn a big payday this spring is Andrew Norwell, coming off his fourth season with the Carolina Panthers, in which he earned All-Pro honors as the best left guard in the entire league. While Norwell has made a little over $4.5 million in his first four seasons in the NFL after going undrafted out of Ohio State in 2014, he should earn a far more lucrative contract for the next four to six years this spring, as his proven excellence will have him in high demand among NFL teams looking to upgrade at the guard position.
Spotrac, a website that tracks and analyzes NFL player contracts, projects Norwell’s market value at an average salary of $11.7 million.
Another Buckeye who should have the chance to cash in this offseason is Carlos Hyde, who is among the top running backs slated to become unrestricted free agents after rushing for 2,729 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first four NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. While Hyde plays a position that has become increasingly devalued in the free agent market compared to other positions in recent years, the big, powerful back is still projected by Spotrac to have a market value of $5.8 million per year.
Carlos Hyde should be in for a solid payday as he heads for unrestricted free agency this offseason. Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
One of the more interesting cases among Buckeyes in free agency could be former Ohio State quarterback turned NFL wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, who gambled on himself last year by turning down multi-year contract offers to sign a one-year, $6 million contract with the Washington Redskins, in hopes of elevating his market value for this offseason. Instead, however, Pryor caught just 20 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown – after catching 77 passes for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns in 2016 with the Cleveland Browns – before undergoing season-ending ankle surgery. That could leave Pryor, who probably won’t have the offers to turn down that he had last year, in position to sign another one-year deal to try to elevate his value for 2019.
Jake McQuaide should be in for a raise after the former Ohio State long snapper was selected to the Pro Bowl this past season, his seventh season in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams. While long snappers typically don’t break the bank, and also usually tend to stay with the same team for a long time, McQuaide’s Pro Bowl selection – his second in as many years – should at least be enough to move him over the $1 million mark in average salary and make him one of the league’s highest-paid players at his position.
Other former Buckeyes slated to become unrestricted free agents include Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Jack Mewhort and New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner. While both of them should have opportunities to continue their careers, whether with their current teams or new teams, both are coming off of season-ending knee injuries that could hamper their chances of landing long-term contract offers.
Former Ohio State offensive lineman Alex Boone, who started 13 games for the Arizona Cardinals this past season on a one-year deal after being cut by the Minnesota Vikings, should also have opportunities to continue his career but likely more short-term offers than long-term offers.
Former Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent, who appeared in four games each for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears this past season as a temporary replacement when those teams’ regular kickers suffered injuries, will likely be looking for any opportunity he can get to keep his career alive.
Beyond the eight Buckeyes (only including those who were on NFL rosters last season) who are set to hit the free agent market this spring, it’s also possible that other former Ohio State players could cash in by signing contract extensions with their current teams. While it’s difficult to predict who those players might be, the most likely candidate would appear to be Denver Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby, who is currently set to play the 2018 season on a $8.5 million fifth-year option, but could certainly garner interest from the Broncos in securing his services for the future.
Regardless of how it all might play out, there’s no question that players who once played for the Scarlet and Gray will make plenty of news in the NFL over the next few months.
